London apartment tower used banned siding in renovation

Gregory Katz, Associated Press

June 18, 2017

Photo: HONS

Image 1of/7

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 7

A police photo released Sunday shows an apartment in the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-story building in London. Experts believe the exterior cladding, which contained insulation, helped spread the fire. less

A police photo released Sunday shows an apartment in the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-story building in London. Experts believe the exterior cladding, which contained insulation, helped spread the ... more

Photo: HONS

Image 2 of 7

In this photo released by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, June 18, 2017, burnt out lifts on an undisclosed floor, in the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-storey building, in London. ??Experts believe the exterior cladding, which contained insulation, helped spread the flames quickly up the outside of the public housing tower early Wednesday morning. Some said they had never seen a building fire advance so quickly. The 24-story tower that once housed up to 600 people in 120 apartments is now a charred ruin. (Metropolitan Police via AP) less

In this photo released by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, June 18, 2017, burnt out lifts on an undisclosed floor, in the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-storey building, in London. ??Experts ... more

Photo: HONS

Image 3 of 7

In this photo released by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, June 18, 2017, a firefighter stands outside of the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-storey building, in London. ??Experts believe the exterior cladding, which contained insulation, helped spread the flames quickly up the outside of the public housing tower early Wednesday morning. Some said they had never seen a building fire advance so quickly. The 24-story tower that once housed up to 600 people in 120 apartments is now a charred ruin. (Metropolitan Police via AP) less

In this photo released by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, June 18, 2017, a firefighter stands outside of the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-storey building, in London. ??Experts believe the ... more

Photo: HONS

Image 4 of 7

In this photo released by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, June 18, 2017, a firefighter stands outside of the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-storey building, in London. ??Experts believe the exterior cladding, which contained insulation, helped spread the flames quickly up the outside of the public housing tower early Wednesday morning. Some said they had never seen a building fire advance so quickly. The 24-story tower that once housed up to 600 people in 120 apartments is now a charred ruin. (Metropolitan Police via AP) less

In this photo released by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, June 18, 2017, a firefighter stands outside of the Grenfell Tower after fire engulfed the 24-storey building, in London. ??Experts believe the ... more

Photo: HONS

Image 5 of 7

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan makes a statement outside St Clements Church, near to Grenfell Tower in west London, Sunday June 18, 2017. Khan attended a church service near the ruined London high-rise apartment building where at least 58 people perished. The mayor and his wife Saadiya, right, joined the congregation Sunday at St. Clement's Church near Grenfell Tower. (John Stillwell/PA via AP) less

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan makes a statement outside St Clements Church, near to Grenfell Tower in west London, Sunday June 18, 2017. Khan attended a church service near the ruined London high-rise apartment ... more

Photo: John Stillwell, SUB

Image 6 of 7

People look at flowers, tokens and photographs left close to Grenfell Tower in west London, Sunday June 18, 2017, after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building on Wednesday morning. Dozens of people died or are missing, presumed dead after the huge fire destroyed the tower block in north Kensington. (John Stillwell/PA via AP) less

People look at flowers, tokens and photographs left close to Grenfell Tower in west London, Sunday June 18, 2017, after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building on Wednesday morning. Dozens of people died or are ... more

Photo: John Stillwell, SUB

Image 7 of 7

Pictures of people missing after the Grenfell Tower block fire are taped to a post box near the scene in North Kensington, west London, on Sunday.

Pictures of people missing after the Grenfell Tower block fire are taped to a post box near the scene in North Kensington, west London, on Sunday.

Photo: TOLGA AKMEN, Stringer

London apartment tower used banned siding in renovation

1 / 7

Back to Gallery

LONDON - The new exterior cladding used in a renovation on London's Grenfell Tower may have been banned under U.K. building regulations, two British ministers said Sunday as police continued their criminal investigation into the inferno that killed at least 58 people.

Trade Minister Greg Hands said the government is carrying out an "urgent inspection" of the roughly 2,500 similar tower blocks across Britain to assess their safety, while an opposition lawmaker urged the government to quickly secure documents in the Grenfell renovation for the criminal probe.

Late Sunday, the Metropolitan Police released three photos from inside Grenfell Tower, which showed in close detail how the fire charred the 24-story building that once housed up to 600 people in 120 apartments.

Experts believe the building's new exterior cladding, which contained insulation, helped spread the flames quickly up the outside of the public housing tower early Wednesday. Some said they had never seen a building fire advance so quickly.

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

Hands and Treasury chief Philip Hammond said in separate TV appearances that the cladding used on Grenfell seems to be prohibited by British regulations. Hands cautioned that officials don't yet have exact details about the renovation that ended just last year.

"My understanding is that the cladding that was reported wasn't in accordance with U.K. building regulations," Hands told Sky News. "We need to find out precisely what cladding was used and how it was attached."

Aluminum cladding with insulation sandwiched between two panels has been blamed for helping to spread flames in major fires in many parts of the world, including blazes in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the United States.

Labour Party lawmaker David Lammy demanded that the government and police immediately seize all documents relating to Grenfell's renovation to prevent the destruction of evidence that could show criminal wrongdoing.

"The prime minister needs to act immediately to ensure that all evidence is protected so that everyone culpable for what happened at Grenfell Tower is held to account and feels the full force of the law," Lammy said, suggesting that contractors might be destroying evidence before it is sought by police.

He said all records - including emails, minutes of meetings, correspondence with contractors, safety assessments, specifications and reports - must be kept intact.

"When the truth comes out about this tragedy, we may find that there is blood on the hands of a number of organizations," Lammy said.

He complained bitterly that a friend - the young artist Khadija Saye - was still alive three hours after the fire started but was unable to get out of her apartment to safety.

Police Commander Stuart Cundy says police will seek criminal prosecutions if the evidence warrants. He has not provided details about the inquiry.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Sunday after attending a church service several blocks from the tower that the fatal blaze was entirely preventable.